LEGO, the world's largest toy manufacturer, abandoned its plan to make "eco-friendly toy blocks" from recycled PET bottles after two years. However, a team led by Professor Yoon Yong-jin of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST has partnered with domestic startup Goonies to solve the problem with a new approach.

In September 2021, LEGO discontinued a project that had been underway since 2021, stating, "Making toy blocks from PET bottles is like making bicycles from wood." This was due to the need for new facilities and the fact that the addition of additives during the processing to ensure durability actually increased carbon emissions.

The New Solution: Reuse, Not Recycling

The new solution is not recycling, but reuse. Professor Yoon's research team has developed and launched a product called "Brick Coaster" using 3D printing design and manufacturing technology. Brick Coaster is not a recycling method like LEGO's failed attempt, but a way to 'reuse' LEGO products to reduce plastic waste.

"Brick Coaster is characterized by its ability to be combined with LEGO block parts to create structures," said Professor Yoon. "We designed and manufactured Brick Coaster using 3D printing to 100% reuse LEGO parts."

Brick Coaster: Fun and Educational with VR Integration

The "Brick Coaster" track is made to LEGO standards. Just as LEGO blocks can be used to create structures of various shapes, Brick Coaster's tracks can also be created in a variety of ways to fit LEGO. After creating the track, marbles can be rolled on it to provide both fun and educational benefits. In addition, a mobile application that utilizes VR technology is also being developed to allow for virtual experiences on the track.

"Brick Coaster, created by a creative educational toy startup using KAIST's 3D printing design and manufacturing technology, provides consumers with a variety of fun and opportunities for creative thinking," said Professor Yoon. "Brick Coaster was not created to compete with LEGO, but to coexist. The advantage of Brick Coaster is that it allows users to naturally learn about environmental protection, sustainable consumption, and the concept of coexistence while playing."

"We will work with KAIST to ensure that the 'reuse' method Brick Coaster, which we developed together, becomes widely known both domestically and internationally, and that Goonies is recognized as a creative and eco-friendly company," said Lee Yoon-jae, CEO of Goonies.

Goonies is currently located in the Pangyo Startup Zone, which was established by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and is operated by the Korea Creative Entrepreneurship Foundation and the Gyeonggi-do Creation Economy Innovation Center. The company has won the Presidential Award at the 'Public Data Utilization Startup Competition' hosted by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security and the Grand Prize at the 'Government 3.0 Culture Data Utilization Competition' hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Key Points

- LEGO's plan to make eco-friendly toy blocks from recycled PET bottles failed due to technical and environmental challenges.

- KAIST and Goonies have developed "Brick Coaster," a new toy that reuses LEGO blocks to reduce plastic waste and promote creative play.

- Brick Coaster offers a fun and educational experience with VR integration and the potential for environmental learning.

- The collaboration between KAIST and Goonies demonstrates the potential of technology and innovation to address environmental challenges and create sustainable products.